Unit pipe clamp fittings



Dec. 8, H331. A, M, ROSSMAN 1,835,338

UNIT PIPE CLAMP FITTINGS Filed Oct. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 8,1931. A. M. RossMAN 1,835,338

UNIT PIPE CLAMP FITTINGS Filed Oct. 25, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 A ZZer/ Mjossman Dec, 8, 1931. A. M RSSMAN 1,835,338

[UNIT PIPE CLAMP FITTINGS `Eled Oct. 25, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Snvenfow59 Alien f1. Hammam Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED sri-mies,v

PATENT OFFICE ALLEN M. ROSSMAN, F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNEASSIGNMENTS, TO ROSSMAN IATENTS, INCORPORATED, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS UNIT PIPE CLAMP FITTINGs Application led October25, 1926. Serial No. 143,875.

My invention relates to clamps.

It will be explained as embodied in a clamp particularly adapted to holdcylindrical rods or pipes together in various arrangements andcombinations. y

In the erection of many kinds of structures, such, for example, asswitchboards, panel boards, sca-l'olds and open metal towers andframeworks 'for supporting walls, machinery 1 and appliances, itiscommon practice to use cylindrical metal rods or vpipes whichare clampedtogether in such a manner as to produce the desired structure and toafford the requisite strength and rigidity thereof. It is oftennecessary or desirable to join together a considerable number of suchpipes or rods at various angles. y

It is now the usual practice for manufaciturers of clamps used inthefabrication `of such structures toprovide a large number of diii'erenttypes of clamps, each type being especially adapted for some particularcondiexpense.

When my new and improved clamp is used it is only necessary to have asupply of four kinds of simple and inexpensive units and sufficient nutsand bolts to secure said units.

\These four kinds of units maybe so assembled'a-s to join a plurality ofpipes having various angular relationships and lying in several diderentplanes.

One .object of this invention is to provide an improved clamp.

Another object is to provide a clamp which will overcome the objectionsto the present clamps heretofore manufactured.

Another object is to provide an improved clamp unit. v

Another object is to provide clamp units which may readily be assembledin proper relation. Y

Another obj ect is to provide four styles of clamp units which may beassociated in a` variety of ways-to fabricate clamps for a wide range ofuse.

Another object is to provide complementary clamp Vunits whose relationin various assemblies may readily be'determined.

Another object is to provide clamp units whichrmay be secured togetherin various combinations with a minimum number of bolts. Y

Another, object is to provide clamp units which are simple, inexpensive,reliable and strong,

Other objects and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In general, the clamp units, 4from which the various clamps may befabricated, comprise half clamp units and quarter clamp units.- The halfunits are so named because two such units will, when properly assem-lbled, Jform a substantially complete circular clamp section or collar.The quarter units are so named because four such units will formsubstantially a complete circular clamp section or collar. Of course,one half unit and'two quarter units will also form a substantiallycomplete circular clamp section or collar. Both the half clamp units andthe quarter clamp units are made in two forms, the two formsco-operating as complementary members to produce the desired clamp.`

The adaptability of my invention isr such thatl a single composite clampcan be assembled from these units which will take care;

of all pipes whose axes intersect at a point common to all of said axes.This adaptability results from the gap formed between adjacent lugs ofcomplementary members of a pair of units, which gap permits theintroduction therebetween of a lug of a co-operating pair ofcomplementary units with the resulting alternative arrangement of thelugs of the co-operating pairs as hereinafter clearly shown.

Embodiments and illustrative applications ofthe invention are shown inthe accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective of one typeof half-clamp unit;

Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 3 is al perspective of the other type of half-clamp unit;

Figure 4 is a` side elevation of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a perspective of one type of quarter-clamp unit;

Figure 6 is a side elevation thereof;

Figure 7 is a perspective ofthe other type of quarter-clamp unit;

Figure 8 is a side elevation of Figure 7;

Figure 9 shows two complementary halfclamp units assembled to form aclamp section or encircling collar;

Figure 10 shows two of each form of quarter-clamp unit assembled to forma clamp section or encircling collar;

Figure 11 is an elevation of a part' of a typical framework, showingthree different types of connections or joints between pipes;

Figure 12 is anrenlarged section on the line 12--12 of Figure 11,showing an arrangement of unit-s to form al single joint or twowayconnection illustrated at the bottom thereof;

Figure 13 is a side elevation of the connection or joint shown in Figure12;

Figure 14 is an enlarged section on the vline 14-14 of Figure 11,showing an arrangement of units to form the four-way connection or jointillustrated at the top thereof;

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the connection shown in Figure 14;

Figure 16 is an enlarged side elevation of the six-way connection orjoint shown at the middle of Figure 11; and

Figure 17 is a section on the. line 17-17 of Figure 11.

The half unit shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a vcurved body andv twoloutwardly projecting clamping lugs 26 and 27 one lug being at each endof the body 25. The body 25 has an inner or pipe clamping face 28 whichis curved on the are of a circle having a. diameter approximately thesame as the external diameter of the pipe or rod with which it is to beused. Preferably, the thickness of the body 25 and lugs 26 and 27 areabout the same and sufficient to withstand the loads to which the unitswill be subjected. The lugs 26 and 27 vhave inner or front clampingfaces 29 and 30, respectively. located approximately in a. plane ofdiameter of the bodyV or pipe clamping face 28, and rear or outerclamping faces 31 and 327 respectively, substantially .parallel thereto.The clamping faces 29 and 36 preferably should fall slightly. short ofbeing in aV plane of a diamen' ter of curved face 28 so that the pipe orrod will be .tightly clamped when the units are assembled. About onethirty-second of an inch has been found to give good results underordinary conditions. The clamping lugs 26 and 27 are provided with holesand 34,

respectively, for the receipt of assembly bolts; as will hereinafter beexplained.

The half unit shown in Figures 3 and 4 is generally similar inconfiguration to that shown in Figures 1 and 2 and comprises a curvedbody 25 having outwardly projecting clamping lugs 26 and 27 at each endthereof. The body 25 has an inner or pipe clamping face 28 which isCurved on the arc of a circle having a diameter approximately the sameas the external diameter of th-e pipe or rod with which it is to beused. In this form of half unit the lugs 26 and 27 have inner or frontclamping faces 29 and 30, respectively, located in a plane which isspaced from and parallel to a plane of a diameter of the body or pipeclamping face 28. The width of this space is substantially thethickness'ofthe lugs. The lugs 26 and 27 are provided with outerclamping faces 31 and 32 substantially parallel to their respectivefront clamping faces.

The quarter u'nit shown in Figures 5 and 6 comprises a curved body 34and two right angularly related, outwardly projecting clamping lugs 35and 36. There is one clamping lug at each end of the curved body andthey are provided with suitable bolt holes 37 and 38,' respectively. Theinner or pipe clamping'face 390i the body 34 is curved on the are of acircle whose diameter approximately the same as the external diameter ofthe pipe or rod with which the unit is to be used; and extends a fullquarter of the circle. The inner or pipe clamping faces 40 and 41 of thelugs 35 and 36, respectively, are approximately in planes of radii ofthe curve of the pipe clamping face 39..y preferably fallingslightlyshort of the radii in order to insure a tight grip upon a pipe.As in the case of the half unit; about one thirty-second of an inchordinarily will produce satisfactory rcl sults. The lugs 35 and 36 haverear clamping faces 42 and 43, respectively.

The quarter unit shown in Figures 7 and 8 has a similar configuration tothat shown in Figures 5 and 6, comprising a curved body 34 and rightangularly related, outwardly projecting clamping lugs 35 and 36 providedwith bolt holes 37 and 38, respectively. The inner or pipe clamping`face 39 of the body 34 is curved on the arc of a circle whose diameteris approximately the same as the external diameter of the pipe or rodwith which the unit is to be used, but it extends somewhat less than aquarter of the circle. The inner or front clamping faces 40 and 41 ofthe lugs 35 and 36, respectively, are located in planes spaced from andparallel to planes of radii of the curve of the pipe clamping face 39.The width of this space is substantially the thickness of a lug. Thelugs 35 and 36 have outer clamping faces 42 and 43 respectively.

These four kinds of clamp units are adapted to be assembled inco-operating relation to form clamps for joining together two or morepipes or similar rod-like members. lf found desirable to facilitate suchassembly, the short units, i. e., the quarter units and half units Iwhose curved bodies fall short of a complete quarter section or halfsection, respectively, may be provided with distinctive marking so as tobe readily distinguished from the full quarter units and half units. Thefull units and short units are so arranged in assembling the clamp as toprovide gaps or spaces between the adjacent lugs of the (5o-operating'units encircling one pipe, into which space is placed a lug of one ofthe units encircling an adjacent pipe.

Figure 9 shows how two half units 25 and 25 can be assembled to form aclamp se .tion to encircle completely a cylindrical pipe or rod 45.Spaces or gaps 46 and 4'? are provided between the adjacent lugs of thecomplementary units. Bolts 4:8, which pass through aligned holes in thelugs of the compleinentary units, serve to anchor the units together andcause the clamp to bind upon and grip the pipe or rod.

j igure 10 similarly shows how two quarter un' and two quarter units Bilmay be assembled to form completely encircling clamp section about apipe or rod 49. The units are assembled in alternating relationship,thereby providing gaps between the adjacent lugs of adjacent units.Bolts 5G, which pass 4'hrough the holes in the unit lugs, hold the unitstogether and cause them to bind upon and grip the pipe or rod.

These four clamp units provide for the easy fabrication of aA largevariety of clamps, a few typical examples of which will hereinafter bedescribed.

A supply of these four clamp units and the necessary nuts and boltsconstitute a simple and inexpensive outfit with which it is possi ble toclamp together rapidly and securely pipes or rods lying in severaldi'liierent planes and havingvarious angular relationships. rlhisadaptability of my invention is such that a composite clamp can beassembled which will take care of and securely join all pipes or similarmembers whose axes intersect at a point common to all of them.

Figures 12 and 13 illustrate in detail an assembly and arrangement ofunits for fabrieating` a two-way clamp suitable for j o-ining` two pipestogether at an angle, as shown at the bottom of Figure ll. In thedrawings a bracing pipe 5l is joined to a standard or upright pipe 52 inthe same plane. To form one section of the complete clamp` a full halfunit 25 and a short half unit 25 have been used and to form the othersection one full half unit. one full quarter unit, and one short quarterunit have been user. Of course, the latter section could have beenformed of four l" v u l quarter units or of two half units if desired.

The two sections of the clamp are joined by a bolt 53 which passesthrough the aligned holes in the overlapping lugs of the units. Atthejoint the lugs of the units of one clamp section alternate with thelugs of the units of the other clamp section. The other sets of adjacentlugs are clamped together by bolts 5e. lt will thus be seen that thespace or gap provided between the adjacent lugs of adjacent clamp unitsof one section permits the introduction therebetween of a lug of one ofthe units forming part of the other clamp section.

Figures 14 and 15 illustrate an arrangement and assembly of units toform a fourway clamp suitable for oining two pipe sections '55 to therip-right 52, as shown at the top of Figure 1l. This clamp is shown asAfabricated entirely from full and short half units 25 and 25,respectively. The acent or angularly related sections of the clamp areheld together by bolts 56 which pass through tho aligned holes of theiroverlapped lirgs.r i At the corner or joint between sections, the lugson the units of adjacent sections alternate or overlap each other, mostclearly shown in Figure 14C.

Arilthoirfzjh Eig` nos 14 and l5 illustrate two pipes united at rightangles to a pipe which entirely through the clamp, it will be understoodthat lthe same clamp might be used to unite four. pipes, each of whichends at he clamp.

r'igures 1G and l? show an arrangement and. assembly of `units to form asix-way clamp, suitablefor uniting four pipes to the rip-right 52, asshown at the center of Figure ll, or for joining six pipes if all end atthe clamp. ln fabricating a. clamp of this type quarter units are usedto Yform two of the opposite sections, for example, upper section 5T andlower section 58, in order to accommodate the lugs forming the foursections which lie at right angles thereto. The other units, however,may be half units. At each corner of the clamp the lugs of the angularlyrelated section units overlap in alternate relationship as previouslydescribed, the same being secured together by bolts 59.

Having thus illustrated and described' an embodiment of my invention,what I claim and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is asfollows.

l claim:

l. A clamp for joining` pipes and the like.

comprising two kinds of units, one kind of unit consisting of a curvedbody having a clamping face curved on the arc of a circle, and a lugprojecting outwardly from each end ofthe body, each lug having` an innerclamping face in a plane parallel to a radius of the body clamping faceand spaced therefrom approximately the thickness of a lug; the otherkind of unit comprising a curved body having a clamping face curved onthe loo les

arc of a circle, and a lug projecting outwardly from each end of thebody, each lug having an inner clamping face approximately in the planeof a radius of the curve of the body clamping face.

2. A clamp for joining rod-like members so that they lie in the sameplane or lie in planes intersecting in a common line, comprising a clampsection for embracing and gripping each rod-like member, each clampsection comprising complementary units to form an encircling collar,each unit comprising a body and projecting lugs extending from each endof the body, the body of one unit being longer by twice the thickness ofa lug than the body of a complementary unit, and a pivot secured throughprojecting lugs of different units to connect cooperating clampsections, the lugs of the units of the cooperating clamp sections beinginterleaved.

3. A clamp for joining pipes and the like so that they lie in a singleplane or in planes which intersect in a common line, comprisingangularly related clamp sections, one for en circling each pipe eachclamp section comprising a complementary pair of units, one of saidunits consisting of a curved body having a clamping face curved on thearc of a circle, and a lug projecting outwardly from each end of thebody, each lug having an inner clamping face in a plane parallel to theradius of the body clamping face, and spaced therefrom approximately thethickness of a lug, the other kind of unit comprising a curved bodyhaving a clamping face curved on the arc ot a circle, anda lugprojecting outwardly from each end of the body, each lug having an innerclampingface approximately in the plane of the radius of the curve ofthe body clamping face, and means for connecting said clamp sections,the lugs of one clamp section being interleaved with the lugs of aconnected clamp section.

ln witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my naine this 2l day ofOctober, 1926.

ALLEN M. ROSSMAN.

